JP2003316993A - Point processing system - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a point processing system with large merits in various aspects compared with a conventional system. <P>SOLUTION: The point processing system has an individual point processing system for every company managing issuance and/or consumption of individual points, a point supervising system putting together and unitarily managing notified points of the individual points issued by each individual point processing system as common points of a user that has received the issuance of the individual points, and a user terminal owned by the user of the common points. The point supervising system is characterized by that it sends contents information to the user terminal by consuming the common points. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2004,JPO

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a point processing system, and more particularly to a point processing system for promoting the utilization of points by sharing points issued by companies for sales promotion and the like.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, as a point processing system, a card operator issues cards according to the amount of credit card usage, a passenger airline company issues points according to miles used, and a chain store operator. There are various types of systems, such as those that issue points according to the purchase price at chain stores.

In many of the conventional point processing systems described above, the business operator who issued the points issues a profit according to the points in the form of a card, a sticker or the like, and the profit is consumed so that the customer receives the points. It is common to return profits.

However, since the point system is managed and operated for each company or for each point-specialized enterprise, the user must collect points for each type of points, and the points are distributed to a plurality of systems. , If the user loses or does not carry the card at the time of use, it is often not possible to receive the point-based service, and the validity period often passes without being used.

In order to solve such inconvenience, it has already been proposed to exchange points for common points or points of other systems (for example, Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2001-2001).
250170, JP 2002-24724).

[0006]

By the way, from the point of view of the point processing system provider, it is not clear when the points are used when the points are accumulated, and there is great financial concern. Therefore, early consumption of points is preferable.

The above point exchangeable system can contribute to the early consumption of points, but the consumption timing will be delayed to some extent when the minimum number of points to be used is fixed. Cannot be avoided.

[0008] Also, the consumption of points is often limited to the products or services related to the business issuing the points, and even if the points can be exchanged, the products or services desired by the customer always exist. Not necessarily,
In this respect, the consumption of points is suppressed.

Furthermore, the point exchangeable system is
When the number of redeemable points increases, how to authenticate customers becomes a problem. Generally, each type of point issuer has separate customer information, which makes adjustment processing difficult. In addition, when the number of points that can be exchanged increases, there arises a problem of how to use a device that performs exchange processing.

Furthermore, the point exchangeable system is a combination of a plurality of types of point processing systems, but it is only responsible for the point exchange function. The processing advantage is small.

The present invention has been made in view of the above points, and it is an object of the present invention to provide a point processing system capable of solving at least one or more of the above-mentioned problems.

[0012]

In order to solve such a problem, the point processing system according to the present invention of claim 1 manages issuing and / or consuming individual points, at least 1.
Of the above individual point processing system and the individual points issued by each of the individual point processing systems, the notified ones are aggregated as a common point of the users who have issued the individual point, and are centrally managed. It has a point management system that can be provided and a user terminal possessed by users of common points, and the point management system consumes common points and transmits content information to the user terminal. To do.

The point processing system of the present invention according to claim 2 is the point processing system according to claim 1,
It has a plurality of distributed servers connected in a tree structure, which are distributed and arranged for each region or type of industry, and each individual point processing system is connected to the distributed server of an arbitrary hierarchy. To do.

A point processing system according to a third aspect of the present invention is the point processing system according to the first or second aspect, wherein the point control system includes common point converting means for converting the individual points of the individual point processing systems into common points. It is characterized by having.

A point processing system according to a fourth aspect of the present invention is the point processing system according to any one of the first to third aspects, wherein the point converting means is a ratio between the number of individual points and the total amount of money issued when the individual point number is issued. On the basis of the above, it is possible to eliminate the difference in the issue standard of the individual points by the individual point processing systems, and to convert the individual points into common points.

A point processing system according to the present invention of claim 5 is the point processing system according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the point management system distributes the requested content in accordance with a request from the user terminal. It is characterized by subtracting common points corresponding to minutes.

A point processing system according to a sixth aspect of the present invention is the point processing system according to any one of the first to fifth aspects, wherein the individual point processing system issues an instruction to transfer a common point of an arbitrary number of the individual points issued. It is characterized by being able to take in.

A point processing system according to the present invention of claim 7 is characterized in that, in any one of claims 1 to 6, the content information is game information.

According to an eighth aspect of the present invention, there is provided the point processing system according to any one of the first to seventh aspects, wherein the content information is culture information.

The point processing system according to the present invention of claim 9 is characterized in that, in any one of claims 1 to 8, the content information is social contribution information.

The point processing system of the present invention according to claim 10 is the virtual market in which the point management system according to any one of claims 1 to 9 converts common points into goods or services by processing on a network. The present invention is characterized by having a gift exchange means.

The point processing system of the present invention according to claim 11 is the point processing system according to any one of claims 1 to 10, wherein any one of the individual point processing systems responds to an instruction from the user to the above point integrated system. The individual point processing system subtracts the individual points of the user, and the point management system adds the common points of the user to the transition in which the individual points of The process of giving and receiving money from the individual point processing system to the point control system is executed.

A point processing system of the present invention according to claim 12 is the point processing system according to any one of claims 1 to 11, wherein the point control system is operated by the individual point processing system side to issue a command to transfer a common point to the individual points. Is converted into common points, and when the number of common points accumulated by the user is updated, the updated common point number is transmitted to the individual point processing system side.

A point processing system according to a thirteenth aspect of the present invention is the point processing system according to any one of the first to twelfth aspects, wherein the point management system is a distributed server forming a tree structure of the converted common points for each user. Of these, the data is transferred to a distributed server accommodating the individual point processing system.

A point processing system according to a fourteenth aspect of the present invention is the point processing system according to any one of the first to thirteenth aspects, wherein the point management system authenticates users who desire to consume common points based on information registered in advance. It is characterized by performing.

[0026]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION (A) One Embodiment Hereinafter, one embodiment of a point processing system of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

(A-1) Configuration of Embodiment FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the overall configuration of a point processing system according to an embodiment.

In FIG. 1, the point processing system 1 of the embodiment has a plurality of individual point processing systems 2, a point control system 3, and a large number of common point use terminals 4. The individual point processing system 2 and the point control system 3 can be connected via a network 5 (or a dedicated line), and the point control system 3 and each common point use terminal 4 are connected to the network 5. Can be connected via.

The network 5 in FIG. 1 does not necessarily represent one type of network,
Multiple types of networks are collectively expressed. For example, the network 5 in FIG. 1 corresponds to an internet network, a mobile phone network, a public wire telephone network, or the like.

Each individual point processing system 2 is a system for performing point processing (point issuance and point consumption) for each company and / or store. Each individual point processing system 2 is, for example, a system in which a card carrier issues points according to the amount of credit card used, or a system in which a passenger airline company issues points according to the mileage used. Or a system in which a game parlor business operator issues points according to the game result of a pachislot machine or a pachinko machine, or a home electronics mass retailer issues points according to the amount of product sales. It is a system.

Although each individual point processing system 2 has a slightly different detailed configuration for each system, whichever system is used, it has a detailed configuration capable of executing the issuing function and / or consuming function of the individual points relating to the business.

FIG. 2 shows an individual point processing system 2
The detailed configuration example of the above is shown, and the business related to this system is, for example, a product sales business having a plurality of stores.

Individual point processing system 2 shown in FIG.
Is an individual point server 10, an individual point database (individual point DB) 11, and a store terminal 12 for each store.
And so on.

The individual point server 10 is composed of a control section and a communication section, and controls and manages the whole of the individual point processing system 2. For example, point issue / issue of individual points and totalization. A totaling function, a member management function that manages members of the individual point processing system 2, a transmission function that transmits points and member information, an authentication approval function that authenticates customers and the approval of point issuance, and accumulated points It is responsible for the grasping function of.

The individual point database 11 is the customer member specific information of the individual point processing system 2 (card number, customer name, address, membership expiration date, etc.,
The number of accumulated individual points, the history of point issuance and point consumption, and the like are stored in association with mobile phone numbers, e-mail addresses, passwords, passwords, etc.). That is, the individual point database 11 centrally manages various information about individual points with the customer specifying information as a key.

Here, as will be described later, even if the individual point processing system 2 performs the conversion from the individual points to the common points, which is necessary when the individual points are transferred to the point control system 3 as the common points. Well, you may go by the point management system 3. Ultimately, it is sufficient that the point management system 3 can store the converted common points, and the conversion place does not matter.

When the individual point processing system 2 performs the conversion from the individual points to the common points, the individual point database 11 stores the conversion rate or the conversion formula for the conversion. .

Since each individual point processing system 2 has a different value (amount of money) corresponding to one unit of the individual points, the conversion method differs depending on each individual point processing system 2 when shifting to common points. become.

For example, if there is an individual point processing system 2 in which the value (amount of money) corresponding to one unit of individual points such as "1 yen corresponds to one point" is explicit, the value corresponding to one unit of individual points ( There is also an individual point processing system 2 in which the amount of money is unclear. In the case of the latter system, it is necessary to apply the following formula so that the value equivalent to one unit (amount of money) is aligned with the other individual point processing system 2 that is explicit.

(Total number of individual points consumed) / (total amount returned to the customer based on the total number of individual points) Even when the point unifying system 3 performs conversion from individual points to common points, similar individual point processing is performed. Processing for canceling the difference in the system 2 is required.

One or more store terminals 12 are provided for each store, and can be connected to the individual point server 10 via a dedicated line or a network. Store terminal 1
Reference numeral 2 appropriately has an adapter device such as a card reader, a bar code reader, or a printer. Under the control of the individual point server 10, the store terminal 12 mainly executes a point issuing function and a point consuming function. The customer member specific information required when issuing points or consuming points is obtained from, for example, a card distributed to the customer members.

The store terminal 12 is a so-called cash register PO.
It may be provided separately from the S terminal, and the cash register P
It may also have an OS terminal function.

Further, there is a server (store server) 13A for each store accommodating a plurality of store terminals 12, and this store server 13A is connected to the individual point server 10 which manages the points of the individual point processing system 2 as a whole. It may be something that is done. Further, it has a server (regional server) 13B for each region accommodating a plurality of store terminals 12, and this regional server 13B is connected to the individual point server 10 that manages the points of the individual point processing system 2 as a whole. May be

The above-described functional description of the individual point server 10, the individual point database 11 and the store terminal 12 is the same as that of the conventional independent point processing system (individual point processing system).

In the case of this embodiment, the individual point server 10, the individual point database 11 and the shop terminal 12
Further has the following functions.

The store terminal 12 takes in the customer member's intention (input information) to make all or some of the individual points issued at the time of point issuance common points managed by the point unifying system 3. Further, the store terminal 12 indicates the customer member's intention (input information) to make all or some of the individual points already stored and managed in the individual point database 11 into common points managed by the point management system 3. It is something to capture.

When the individual point server 10 is instructed to transfer the individual points to the common points,
The migration processing is executed in cooperation with the point control system 3.

Here, the transfer of the individual points to the common points is performed, for example, in the form of transferring the debt from the operator of the individual point processing system 2 to the operator of the point management system 3, and the individual points are transferred. Money is transferred from the operator of the processing system 2 to the operator of the point control system 3.

The individual point database 11 is also written with the history of transition from the individual points to the common points as described above.

As described above, the point control system 3 controls all the individual points issued by each individual point processing system 2 and transferred to common points according to the customer's request. , It is responsible for the consumption function of common points (though it may be issued).

In the case of this embodiment, the common points are mainly consumed by using communication, and are mainly consumed in an amusement system.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a detailed configuration example of such a point control system 3.

As shown in FIG. 3, the point management system 3 includes a management server 20, a customer member database (customer member DB) 21, and a company member database (company member DB).
22 and Web page database (Web page D
B) Has 23 etc.

The integrated server 20 is composed of a control unit and a communication unit, and implements various functions related to common points as will be described later while controlling the entire point integrated system 3.

The customer member database 21 stores the customer member specific information (customer specific information; not only mobile phone number, e-mail address, password, etc., but also customer's name, address, membership expiration date, etc.). In association with each other, the number of accumulated common points, the transition history from individual points to common points, the consumption history of common points, and the like are stored. That is, the customer member database 21 centrally manages various pieces of information about points with the customer specifying information as a key.

The corporate member database 22 is associated with the specific information of the individual point issuing entity (corporate member) such as a store, a company or a corporate body operating the individual point processing system 2 in association with individual points and common points. It includes information such as the exchange rate, the number of common points transferred on the day (or the number of individual points before the transfer), the payment amount, the settlement account information, and the history of transfer to common points.

Incidentally, the conversion processing at the time of shifting from the individual points to the common points may be carried out on the side of the individual point processing system 2 described above, and the point unifying system 3
You may go by the side. The description of the operation to be described later will be given on the assumption that the former.

Further, the corporate member database 22 stores the total accumulated number of common points exceeding the number of stores, companies or corporate bodies, settlement account information related to the point management system 3 and settlement of information with corporate members. It contains information such as history.

The web page database 23 stores web pages to be provided to the common point use terminal 4 in response to a request from the common point use terminal 4, and each web page forms a flow of processing. It is something that goes.

The central server 20 performs various controls while appropriately accessing the three types of databases 21 to 23 as described above. The contents of processing performed by the central server 20 will be clarified in the description of “operation described later”.

As the actual product, the central server 20 will be constructed by a plurality of servers in terms of hardware and the functions will be distributed. Further, a plurality of servers that form the central server 20 may be distributed and processed in a master-slave configuration.

Although the detailed structure of the common point utilizing terminal 4 is omitted, the terminal (PC, PDA, PC, etc.) having a Web page browser function, an electronic mail receiving function, etc.
Mobile phones, game terminals having a communication function, etc. are intended especially for mobile terminals), and existing ones can be applied. The common point utilization terminal 4 is provided with various amusement services and the like by exchanging Web pages with the point management system 3, and the common points are consumed in providing this.

In the case of this embodiment, the customers who can enjoy the merit of the point management system 3 are limited to the customer members. In addition, non-members can also use the point management system 3
May be used, or the contents available to members and non-members may be changed.

Although omitted in FIG. 1, the point control system 3 is connected to a processing device of a financial institution, for example, via CAFIS (Zenkinkyo Net), and if necessary, an information processing device of a transportation company. It is also connected to an information processing device of a mobile phone network operating company.

(A-2) Operation of the embodiment (A-2-1) Operation of shifting individual points to common points when purchasing a product Next, when the product is purchased or service is received The operation of immediately shifting the individual point to the common point will be described with reference to the sequence diagrams of FIGS. 4 and 5.

A customer member pays the price (a credit card or a debit card may be used), receives a product, receives a service, and the conditions for issuing individual points are satisfied. At that time, for example, the individual point card of the customer is given to the store employee to request point issuance.

At this time, the store employee operates the store terminal 12
(See FIG. 2) The point issuing mode is instructed to read the individual point card (S1), and the individual point server 10 holds the card (customer member).
Is authenticated (S2). If the authentication is not successful, a message to that effect is displayed (S3).

When authentication is successful, a message to that effect is displayed on the store terminal 12, and the store employee decides how to distribute the points from the customer member to individual points and common points during the purchase price of the product or the service provision price. Ask. Then, the store employee inputs the purchase price of the product or the provision price of the service to the store terminal 12 and also inputs the distribution amount to each type of points (S4, S5). Other input methods may be used for how many individual points and how many common points are input.

The store terminal 12 gives the individual point server 10 an amount of money to be converted to an individual point, and the individual point server 10 converts the amount of money to an individual point and stores the number of accumulated points of the authenticated customer member in the individual point database 11. The number of individual points this time is added and updated (S6).
It should be noted that when the amount of money converted into individual points is 0, the process of step S6 is omitted.

Further, the store terminal 12 gives the converted amount to the common point to the individual point server 10, and the individual point server 10 converts the amount to the common point and specifies the customer stored in the individual point database 11. The information (for example, the mobile phone number, name, and address of the customer) is transmitted to the point control system 3 (control server 20) (S7). When the amount of money converted into the common points is 0, the processes after step S7 are omitted.

Point control system 3 (control server 2
0) checks whether or not the customer is a member of the point management system 3 by searching the customer member database 21 based on the given customer specifying information (S8).

If the member is not a member of the point management system 3, the management server 20 returns a message to that effect to the individual point processing system 2 (S9), and the individual point processing system 2 (individual point server 10) returns to the store. Terminal 1
From 2 to that effect and the amount of money to be converted to common points is also displayed to be converted to individual points (S1
0), the planned conversion amount to the common points is converted into individual points, and the current individual point number is added and updated to the accumulated point number of the authenticated customer member of the individual point database 11 (S11).

Control server 20 of point control system 3
Confirms that the customer who is requested to store the common points is a member of the point management system 3 (positive result in step S8), the number of common points relating to the customer member in the customer member database 21 is set this time. Add and update only the given amount and add to the history (S1
2) In addition, the corresponding item (the number of shifts to the common point on the day and the history thereof) of the company member database 22 related to the individual point processing system 2 that has transmitted the common point storage request this time is updated (S13). .

Then, the central server 20 informs the individual point processing system 2 that the transfer processing to the common points is completed.
(S14), and the individual point processing system 2 (individual point server 10) displays that fact from the store terminal 12 (S15). The individual points and the common points need to have the same monetary value. There is no. Therefore, the individual point processing system 2 manages the conversion rate when converting the amount of money to the individual points and the conversion rate when converting the amount of money to the common points, and when converting the individual points to the common points. The individual point processing system 2 also manages the conversion rate of. Such information may be managed by the point management system 3 side.

(A-2-2) Individual Point Consumption Operation Next, the operation when consuming individual points will be described with reference to the sequence diagrams of FIGS. 6 and 7. It should be noted that it is also permitted to move to common points by taking the opportunity to consume individual points.

When a customer member wants to consume individual points to receive a product or receive a service, for example, the individual point card of the customer and the product are handed over to the store employee. And ask for point consumption.

At this time, the store employee operates the store terminal 12
(See FIG. 2), the point consumption mode is instructed to read the individual point card (S21), and the individual point server 10 authenticates the holder (customer member) of the card (S22). If the authentication is not successful, a message to that effect is displayed (S23). As a result, the store employee refuses to consume individual points (provide products or services).

When the authentication is successful, the fact is displayed on the store terminal 12, and the store employee inputs to the store terminal 12 the purchase price of the product for which the consumption of individual points is requested or the service provision price (S24). ).

The store terminal 12 gives the consumption amount from the individual points to the individual point server 10, and the individual point server 10 converts the amount of money into the individual points, and the accumulated point number of the authenticated customer member of the individual point database 11 By comparing with, it is determined whether or not individual point consumption is possible (S25). If the individual points are not consumed due to the shortage of the accumulated points, the fact is displayed from the store terminal 12 (S26). This allows
The store employee refuses to consume individual points (provision of goods and services).

When the number of accumulated points is sufficient and the consumption of individual points is recognized, the individual point server 1
For 0, the accumulated point number in the individual point database 11 is subtracted and updated by the consumed individual point number at this time, and the history is stored (S27). Then, the individual point server 10 causes the store terminal 12 to display that the consumption processing has ended together with the updated accumulated point number (S2).
8).

At this time, the store employee inquires of the customer member whether or not to transfer the individual points to the common points. When the store employee is requested to shift to the common points, the store employee listens to the number of individual points to be shifted (the number of accumulated points or less), and inputs the number of individual points to the store terminal 12 together with the shift mode (S29). ).

The store terminal 12 notifies the individual point server 10 of conversion of the accumulated number of instructions into individual points, and the individual point server 10 obtains the number of common points according to the number of individual points. Then, the information is transmitted to the point control system 3 (control server 20) together with the customer identification information (for example, the customer's mobile phone number, name, address) stored in the individual point database 11 (S30).

Point control system 3 (control server 2
0) confirms whether or not the customer is a member of the point management system 3 by searching the customer member database 21 based on the given customer specifying information (S31).

If the member is not a member of the point management system 3, the management server 20 returns a message to that effect to the individual point processing system 2 (S32), and the individual point processing system 2 (individual point server 10) returns to the store. The terminal 12 displays that effect and that it cannot be converted to a common point (S33).

Control server 20 of point control system 3
Confirms that the customer who is requested to store the common points is a member of the point management system 3 (positive result in step S31), the number of common points related to the customer member in the customer member database 21 is set this time. Add and update only the given amount and add it to the history (S
34) In addition, the corresponding item (the number of shifts to the common point on the day and the history thereof) of the company member database 22 related to the individual point processing system 2 that has transmitted the common point storage request this time is updated (S35). .

Then, the central server 20 informs the individual point processing system 2 that the transfer processing to the common points is completed.
(S36), the individual point processing system 2 (individual point server 10) displays the fact from the store terminal 12 (S37), and stores the number of accumulated points of the corresponding customer in the individual point database 11 (accumulated individual points). The number of points) is subtracted and updated by the amount directed to the common number of points (S38).

The individual point conversion to the common point by the activation from the store terminal 12 as described above may be performed as a single process independent of the individual point consumption operation.

(A-2-3) Conversion of individual points activated by the common point utilization terminal 4 to common points The customer member uses the common point utilization terminal 4 to accumulate individual points in the individual point processing system 2. Can be triggered to convert to a common point. Below, an example of the conversion operation from the individual points to the common points in this case will be described in detail with reference to the sequence diagrams of FIGS. 8 and 9.

The customer member gives an instruction for the individual point conversion mode from the common point use terminal 4 to the point control system 3 (S40).

The point control system 3 carries out a customer member authentication process (S41). If authentication is not possible, the point management system 3 returns a message to that effect to the common point use terminal 4 (S42), and the common point use terminal 4 displays authentication NG (S43).

Unlike the above, the order of instructing the individual point conversion mode after the authentication may be used.

When the point management system 3 can authenticate the customer member, the point management system 3 returns a message to that effect to the common point use terminal 4 (S44). At this time, the customer selects one of the plurality of individual point processing systems (2). Is input and the common point use terminal 4 transmits it to the point control system 3 (S45). At this time, the point management system 3 inquires of the identified individual point processing system 2 about the number of accumulated individual points of the customer member, and uses the accumulated number of returned individual points as a common point utilization terminal. 4 (S46-)
S48).

Although not shown in FIG. 8, when the number of individual points is inquired, the individual point processing system 2 confirms whether or not the customer is a member of the system 2 and can confirm it. The number of individual points will be returned only when If it cannot be confirmed, the system 2
Reply that you are not a member of.

The number of accumulated individual points transferred is displayed on the common point utilizing terminal 4, and the customer designates the number of individual points to be converted into common points through the common point utilizing terminal 4 with the upper limit thereof displayed. (S4
9), the point control system 3 transfers the information to the individual point processing system 2 (S50).

The individual point processing system 2 subtracts and updates the accumulated point number of the individual point database 11 (S51), and notifies the point control system 3 of the conversion end together with the information of the common point number obtained by converting the individual point number. (S52). Point control system 3
Updates the contents of the customer member database 21 and the company member database 22 according to the conversion contents this time, and notifies the common point use terminal 4 of the conversion end (S5).
3). Then, the common point use terminal 4 displays the end of conversion (S54).

(A-2-4) Member Login Operation to Point Control System The customer members who have accumulated common points in the point control system 3 can enjoy various services provided by the point control system 3. Whenever the service is provided, the user must log in to the point management system 3 as a member.

During this operation, the point control system 3
The data is transmitted and received in accordance with a predetermined sequence between the common point use terminal 4 and the common point use terminal 4, and the login is performed. The operation sequence of will be described.

When a customer member logs in to the point control system 3 as a member, first, a general top screen (Web page) that can be accessed by anyone other than the member from the point control system 3 using the common point use terminal 4
Take out P1. In the point management system 3, the management server 20 reads the data of the general top screen P1 from the Web page database 23 and transmits it at this time. Further, at this time, a communication processing process with this customer is set, which functions effectively until the customer instructs the end of communication. "AM" on the general top screen P1
-BOX "is the site naming.

The customer member selects "member login" from the notation defining the link destination on the general top screen P1 displayed on the common point use terminal 4 by using the operation key or the like. The common point use terminal 4 transmits the selected content to the point control system 3.

At this time, the point control system 3 takes out a login screen (Web page data; the same applies hereinafter for the screen page data) P2 and returns it to the common point use terminal 4.

The login screen P2 includes, for example, input fields for an ID and a password.
Data relating to the user is input in these input fields and transmitted to the point control system 3.

The point management system 3 receives the input I
If the D and the password match those stored in the customer member database 21, the top screen P3 of the member site is taken out, and the predetermined data about the customer member stored in the customer member database 21 is changed to the member site. It is included in the top screen P3 of and is transmitted to the common point use terminal 4. This completes the login operation.

The top screen P3 of the member site shown in FIG.
In, the part surrounded by “” (“0” or “registered”) is a unique data part regarding the accessing customer member.

On the other hand, if the input ID and password do not match those stored in the customer member database 21, the point management system 3 displays, for example, the general top screen P1 or the uninput login screen P2. Processing is performed so that the common point use terminal 4 is displayed again.

The login screen P2 also includes an expression that allows access to a link screen for a customer member who has forgotten the password. A customer member who has forgotten the password can access the point by accessing the expression. From the control system 3 side, password reminder screen P4
The password notification mail P6 is addressed to the mail address related to the common point use terminal 4 by taking out the password, inputting the data into the date of birth input field and the mail address input field on the screen P4 and transmitting it to the point management system 3. Will be shipped to.

Note that the notification screen P5 indicating that the e-mail has been sent is immediately sent to the common point use terminal 4.

The password notification mail P6 includes not only a password, but also an expression (so-called URL) for shifting to the above-mentioned login screen P2 or the member site top screen P3.

(A-2-5) Member Registration Operation to Point Control System In order to enjoy various services provided by the point control system 3, it is necessary to perform member registration in advance. Even during this registration operation, data is exchanged between the point management system 3 and the common point use terminal 4 in accordance with a predetermined sequence, but in the following, the change of the display screen of the common point use terminal 4 shown in FIG. The operation sequence at the time of member registration will be described with reference to FIG.

The operation until the customer displays the general top screen P1 on the common point use terminal 4 is the same as that at the login described above.

A customer who wants to become a member uses the operation keys or the like to select "Member registration" from the notation defining the link destination on the general top screen P1 displayed on the common point use terminal 4. ", And use common point terminal 4
Transmits the selected content to the point control system 3.

At this time, the point management system 3 takes out the summary screen P7 for member registration and returns it to the common point use terminal 4.

The summary screen P7 for member registration includes the expression "Please read the membership agreement and then press the membership registration button below.", As well as "Read the membership agreement" and "Member registration". There is an expression icon of "do".

When the expression icon "read the member agreement" is pressed, the member agreement screens P8-1 to P8-n are displayed as the common point utilizing terminal by exchanging information between the common point utilizing terminal 4 and the point managing system 3. 4 is displayed as appropriate. The member agreement screens P8-1 to P8-n have, for example, a plurality of screen configurations, and can return to the summary screen P7 for member registration.

When the expression icon "register as a member" on the summary screen P7 for member registration is pressed,
An e-mail with an empty mail body related to this icon is sent from the common point use terminal 4 to the point control system 3, and the point control system 3 receiving this sends the registration start e-mail P9 in common. Immediate reply to the point use terminal 4. The reason why the point integrated system 3 obtains the mail address of the common point use terminal 4 is that the e-mail having an empty mail body is transmitted from the common point use terminal 4.

The registration activation e-mail P9 includes a URL address for fetching the specific registration screens P10-1 to P10-3. From the common point use terminal 4 to this URL address. By performing the access from the point management system 3 to the common point use terminal 4 on the specific screens P10-1 to P10-3 for registration.
Is transferred.

The customer presses the registration icon after inputting necessary items in various input fields on the concrete screens P10-1 to P10-3 for registration of three screens. Thereby, the point management system 3 sets the record of the customer member in the customer member database 21 and stores the necessary items. In addition, the point management system 3 gives the registration completion notification screen P11 to the common point use terminal 4 after the storage.

In the case of this embodiment, on the specific screens P10-1 to P10-3 for registration, the user ID is automatically assigned by the point management system 3, and the common point use terminal 4 ( It is the email address of the mobile phone). Also, in order to increase the certainty of password input, a two-time password input method is adopted. Further, in order to improve the easiness of input, when a zip code is input, the address part of the administrative division defined by the zip code is automatically inserted in the input field of the address.

The registration completion notification screen P11 is also provided with an icon that can be moved to the above-described member site top screen P3.

(A-2-6) Service Explanation of Point Control System The various services provided by the operation point control system 3 can be explained to customer members. Even during this explanation operation, data is exchanged between the point control system 3 and the common point use terminal 4 in accordance with a predetermined sequence, but in the following, a change in the display screen of the common point use terminal 4 shown in FIG. The sequence at the time of an explanation operation of various services provided by the point management system 3 will be described with reference to FIG.

The operation until the customer member displays the general top screen P1 on the common point use terminal 4 is the operation at the time of login described above.

A customer member who wants to know the outline of the point control system 3 needs to select an operation key or the like from the notation defining the link destination on the general top screen P1 displayed on the common point use terminal 4. The "AM box parlor" is selected by using it, and the common point use terminal 4 transmits the selected content to the point control system 3.

At this time, the point control system 3 takes out the outline explanation screen P12 of the point control system 3 and returns it to the common point use terminal 4.

Outline explanation screen P of the point control system 3
12 (P12-a to P12-c) has a single screen configuration, but the amount of data to be described is large, and the customer member will see the entire text by scrolling.

Outline explanation screen P of the point control system 3
12 may be configured to be able to shift from this screen P12 to an arbitrary screen relating to various services to be provided, and only icons capable of shifting to a screen relating to services that most customer members are most interested in May be included. The outline explanation screen P12 shown in FIG. 11 can be changed to any of a "notification mail" screen, a "member registration" screen, and a "game center" screen.

(A-2-7) Common Point Change History Display Operation of Point Control System When a customer member displays a change history of his / her common points (indicated as AM-POINT in the drawings relating to various screens) The operation will be described with reference to FIG.

The above-mentioned top screen P3 of the member site includes an icon "view point history", and a customer member who wants to know the change history of his / her common points operates this icon.

As a result, the common point use terminal 4 notifies the point control system 3 to that effect, and the point control system 3 accesses the customer member database 21 to retrieve history information, and a history including the retrieved history information. A display screen P13 is formed and returned to the common point use terminal 4 to be displayed.

The history information stored in the customer member database 21 may be erased at the timing of this retrieval, and regardless of whether or not the retrieval is performed this time, the history information is erased only after a predetermined number of cases. Alternatively, the erasure may be performed only after a predetermined period (for example, one month) has passed from the initial storage time, or the erasure may be performed after the positive erasing operation by the customer member.

In FIG. 12, the first history display screen P13-1 is the screen when there is no history stored in the customer member database 21, and the second history display screen P13-2 is the customer. It is a screen when there is a history stored in the member database 21.

(A-2-8) Common Point Increasing Operation of Point Control System The customer member can also increase the common points managed by the point control system 3. Operations that can increase the common points will be described with reference to FIG.

The corporate member who cooperates with the point management system 3 desires to provide a quiz or questionnaire about himself to the customer member, and in order to promote such provision,
The point management system 3 of this embodiment is provided with a common point increasing operation using a quiz or questionnaire.

On the top screen P3 of the member site described above, "See new information (2 cases)" is associated with the sentence "collect points" (the number of cases is changed each time).
This icon is included, and customer members who want to increase the number of points of their own common points operate this icon.

This operation information is the common point utilization terminal 4
The point management system 3 given to the common point use terminal 4 displays a selection screen P14 such as a quiz including information on quizzes and questionnaires that can be answered at that time and information on the number of points increased when responding appropriately. Reply. The types of quizzes and surveys are iconified.

The customer member selects a quiz or questionnaire for which an answer is to be given, and the point management system 3 to which the selection information is given from the common point use terminal 4 displays the question screen P1.
5 is transmitted to the common point utilizing terminal 4. The screen P15-a in FIG. 13 is an example of a question screen regarding a quiz, and has an input field for inputting an answer. Figure 1
Screens P15-b1 and P15- having a two-screen configuration in No. 3
b2 is an example of a question screen regarding a questionnaire (questionnaire type quiz), and includes a mark icon for selecting one from a plurality of options.

FIG. 13 is an example of a quiz in which a gaming machine maker or the like has become a member of a cooperating company, and is intended to notify new machine information of a pachislo gaming machine.

The point management system 3 to which the answer to the quiz or the answer to the questionnaire has been sent from the common point use terminal 4 determines whether or not the requirement for increasing points is satisfied (correctness of the answer, etc.), and the determination result is shown. The corresponding result screen P16 is transmitted to the common point use terminal 4, and the accumulated points of the customer member in the customer member database 21 are increased by the amount determined by the quiz type.

Although FIG. 13 shows the result screen P16 when the point increase requirement is satisfied, the result screen (P16) where the point increase requirement is not satisfied is also returned to the common point use terminal 4.

When a reply is received, the newly arrived information for which a reply is given may be deleted from the information of the customer member in the customer member database 21 to prevent the reply from being made again.

When the point increase requirement is met, the information of the corporate member database 22 of the corporate member relating to the answer such as the quiz, in particular, the number of common points issued by the correct answer (in the database 22, Such information is also included) and the burden may be placed on the corporate member. Note that the operating company of the point management system 3 may receive the amount of postings such as quizzes from the corporate members in advance and issue the common points to the correct answer customer members within the range of the amount of money.

It should be noted that, on the screen of the quiz or questionnaire relating to the increase of the common points, or on the screen before that, for example, an input field of a keyword that can be known only by the customer member who visited the store of the corporate member is provided. When the quiz is correct after the keyword is input, the common point number may be increased by one step.

(A-2-9) Cash Back Operation of Point Control System The customer member can also convert his / her common points managed by the point control system 3 into money (cash). The common point cashing operation (cash back operation) will be described with reference to FIG.

On the top screen P3 of the member site, the icons "create an account", "register an account", and "pay to account" are included in association with the sentence "cashback". A customer member who desires cash-back processing operates one of these icons.

Whichever icon is operated,
That is, the point management system 3 given from the common point use terminal 4 displays the cashback screen P16.
Is transmitted to the common point utilizing terminal 4. In addition, when the information (for example, account information) about cashback about the customer member is included in the customer member database 21, the information is reflected on the cashback screen P16 transmitted to the common point use terminal 4. .

The cashback screen P16 is a screen portion P16-0 for explaining the procedure, a screen portion P16-a related to "create an account", and a screen portion P16-b related to "register an account". And a screen portion P16-c related to "payment to account", and the customer member performs an input operation or the like on a portion related to a process desired by the customer member.

For example, when a predetermined item is input in the screen portion P16-b related to "register account" and the registration icon is operated, the information is given from the common point use terminal 4 to the point integrated system 3, The overall system 3 transmits the final registration confirmation screen P17 to the common point use terminal 4. Only when the registration icon on the final registration confirmation screen P17 is operated, the account registration information is added to the record of the customer member in the customer member database 21.

Further, for example, in the case where the initial operation is "to deposit an account", (1) if the account is not registered, the point control system 3 causes the screen portion related to "to deposit to the account". P16-c is the screen portion P16 of FIG.
-Account registration is requested as in c1, and (2) If the accumulated common points are less than 1000 yen, the point management system 3 causes the screen portion P16 relating to "payment to account"- c is the screen portion P16 of FIG.
-Please inform that you can not deposit like c2,
(3) If the number of accumulated common points is equal to or more than 1000 yen, the point control system 3 changes the screen portion P16-c related to "pay to account" to the screen portion P16-c3 in FIG. Will be the final payment confirmation.

The point management system 3 to which the final deposit instruction is given subtracts the common point number of the customer member in the customer member database 21 by the number of cashed points, and transfers it to the designated cashback account. Start the transfer process of.

The transfer fee shall be borne by the customer member,
You may make it subtract the common point number corresponding to it. In addition, the transfer process to the cashback account is
Instead of real time, the point management system 3 may collectively perform a plurality of transfer processes.

(A-2-10) Information notification operation from member site top screen The member site top screen P3 includes icons other than those mentioned above, and these icons (except the member information change icon) are operated. The operation in the case of being performed will be described with reference to FIG.

[AA] on the member site top screen P3
When the icon "A game center" is operated, a guidance screen P for explaining the AAA game center is displayed.
19 is given to the common point use terminal 4 from the point management system 3 and displayed. The guidance screen P19 of the game center also includes an icon for shifting to a game center site (see FIG. 17) of the game center to enjoy on the Internet.

When the "inquiry" icon on the member site top screen P3 is operated,
A screen P20 relating to this is given to the common point use terminal 4 from the point management system 3 and displayed.

This screen P20 is also provided with an icon "Inquiry". When this icon is operated, the point management system 3 can write in questions and reply to the point management system 3 by e-mail. The screen P21-1 is given to the common point use terminal 4 and displayed. The customer member can write specific questions in this email and send it to the point management system 3.

To this question, the employee related to the point control system 3 answers by e-mail or the like.

The screen P20 described above is provided with an icon "withdrawal", and when this icon is operated,
A screen P21-2 is displayed on the common point use terminal 4 so that the point management system 3 can write a withdrawal intention and reply to the point management system 3 by e-mail. The customer member can specifically write the intention to leave the e-mail and send it to the point management system 3. By such a procedure, it is possible to prevent erroneous withdrawal processing.

Furthermore, even when the icon "AM box" on the member site top screen P3 is operated, the above-mentioned screen P12 is displayed as in the case where the same icon on the general top screen P1 is operated. It

(A-2-11) Member information changing operation of the point control system Next, the changing operation of the customer member information (customer identification information) will be described.
A brief description will be given with reference to FIG.

When the icon “change member information” on the member site top screen P3 is operated, a screen P22 asking which item to change is displayed by being given to the common point use terminal 4 from the point management system 3. The customer member can call the "mobile email address (member I
D) ”,“ address ”,“ mobile phone number ”, and“ PC (personal computer etc.) mail address ”are designated.

[Address], [Mobile phone number] or [PC]
The description of the operation when "mail address" (personal computer, etc.) is specified is omitted.

When the "mobile phone mail address (member ID)" is designated, the point management system 3 displays an icon for the common point use terminal 4 to send an e-mail including a new mobile phone mail address from the common point use terminal 4. By giving a screen P23 including the screen and operating the icon "... Apply", the point management system 3 moves from the common point use terminal 4 to the point management system 3.
E-mail (However, the new mail address of the sender has the common point terminal 4 added) P24 is sent,
In response to this, the mail P25 is used by the common point terminal 4
The change to the mobile phone email address (member ID) is confirmed by replying to.

(A-2-12) Game Operation Provided by Point Control System The customer member can enjoy the game provided by the point control system 3. In the various screens mentioned above,
On the screens P12 (FIG. 11 and FIG. 15) and P19 (FIG. 15) including the icon “GO to AAA Game Center”, the point management system 3 that has received the notification that the icon has been operated is displayed on the screen of FIG. A game selection screen P30 such as 30 is transmitted to the common point use terminal 4.

When the customer member selects one of the plurality of game type candidates displayed on the game selection screen P30, the point control system 3 is notified of the fact, and the point control system 3 can enjoy the game. A screen P31 having the option to clarify the required number of common points and ask whether to execute the game is transmitted to the common point utilizing terminal 4.

When the common point use terminal 4 notifies that the customer member has instructed the execution of the game, the point management system 3 accesses the customer member database 21 and has the number of common points enough to execute the game. Is confirmed and the subtraction process of the number of points is executed, and then the game is given to the common point use terminal 4 as shown on the screen P32-1 or P32-2 to make the customer member execute the game. .

Incidentally, the customer member who thinks that the number of accumulated common points is insufficient to execute the game, selects the option "collect points first" on the game selection screen P30, The screen is changed to the screen P14 in which the points as described above can be increased.

The game type may be such that a predetermined number of common points are given according to the result of the game. For example, a betting game (bookmaker) or the like such as a horse race may be used, although not clearly shown on the screen P30 of FIG.

(A-2-12) Corporate Member Settlement Operation Next, the settlement operation accompanying the shift of individual points of corporate members to common points will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.

In the point control system 3, the control server 20 autonomously activates the settlement operation with the corporate members shown in FIG. 18 at a predetermined time (11:00 pm every day), for example.

First, the central server 20 retrieves information of one corporate member from the corporate member database 22 (S61), recognizes the number of common points transferred from the number of individual points relating to that corporate member, and sets the settlement amount. Determine (S
62).

[0168] Then, the payment amount is deducted from the company member's account, and the payment amount is credited to the operator account of the point management system 3 in cooperation with the information processing system of the financial institution ( S63).

When the settlement process for a certain corporate member is completed, the central server 20 determines whether or not the point settlement process for all corporate members has been executed (S64). If not completed, the process returns to step S61 described above. When the settlement process for all the corporate members is executed for the next corporate members, the series of processes shown in FIG. 18 is ended.

For example, by processing on a day-by-day basis in this way, according to the corporate member, it is possible to settle points early by shifting individual points, which are not clear when they are used, to common points, which is economically possible. It is easy to process. Therefore, even if a higher amount than the amount determined by the number of individual points is transferred to the account of the point management system 3, it seems that the corporate member has a great advantage.

The conversion rate from the individual points to the common points, the conversion rate to the transfer amount when the common points are transferred, and the like may be set arbitrarily.

(A-3) Effects of the Embodiments According to the above embodiments, the individual point processing system is irrelevant to the processing of the common points after the individual points are transferred to the point control system as common points. Even if you do not newly create an individual point processing system, you can deal with it by slightly modifying the existing individual point processing system. Can be processed without considering, and the operator of the point control system can also arbitrarily operate the system.

Further, according to the above-mentioned embodiment, from the viewpoint of the corporate member who operates the individual point processing system, the settlement relating to the issue of the individual points is made on the same day by shifting to the common points rather than being accumulated as the individual points. It can be executed in a short time such as, and can remove the financial anxiety.

Further, according to the above-mentioned embodiment, since the individual points can be transferred to the common points by an arbitrary number of points, from the viewpoint of individual members, even if the individual points of each individual point processing system are small, the common points are not common points. The number of points can be set to a certain level, and the number of opportunities to enjoy point consumption can be increased. Further, if necessary, the points can be processed as individual points, and the degree of freedom of point consumption is considerably higher than that in the case of only the individual point processing system.

Furthermore, even if a large number of individual point processing systems (individual point processing systems) are included and customer authentication methods are not unified, in the point integrated system, the common point use terminal 4 is related. Since the information to be specified is the customer specific information, the customer member can easily enjoy the consumption of common points at various places without having many cards of individual point processing systems, and this also means that It can also be a major factor in encouraging member registration of the point management system.

(B) Other Embodiments In the description of the above embodiment, various modified embodiments have been mentioned, but further modified embodiments as illustrated below can be mentioned.

(B-1) In the above embodiment, the service provided by the point management system 3 on the premise of point payment is the game itself, but other information may be used. For example, movies,
It may be cultural content such as music, books, comics, lessons, etc., social contribution content such as content provided by non-profit organizations such as "Ashinaga Foundation" or content provided by volunteer groups. May be Further, it may be, for example, a pachi-slot strategy (tactics site or strategy guide) or new model information that belongs to both game content and culture content.

(B-2) In the above embodiment, the accumulated common points can be cashed back. However, instead of or in addition to this, the common points can be set in the form of an article (prize). You may be able to give back. That is, the prize exchange may be performed on the net. FIG. 19 shows a sequence diagram in such a case.

A customer member who desires to convert the accumulated common points into an article, from the common point utilizing terminal 4,
Request download of the catalog information from the control server 20 (point control system 3) (S71), control server 2
0 retrieves the catalog information from the internal database or the database of the information processing apparatus of the cooperating mail order company, and stores it in the common point use terminal 4 together with the number of accumulated points stored in the customer member database 21. Transfer (S72). The catalog information may be transmitted part by part in response to the operation of the “next page” or “previous page” performed by the customer on the common point use terminal 4.

The customer selects a desired article (or service; hereinafter referred to as article) from the displayed catalog information.
From the common point use terminal 4 to the central server 2
The exchange instruction information (which may be accompanied information such as the desired delivery date and time) between the common point and the article is transmitted to 0 (S73).

The central server 20 compares the number of points required for the instructed article with the number of accumulated points, and the like,
It is determined whether or not the exchange of common points and goods is permitted (S74).

When permitting the exchange of the common points and the goods, the central server 20 requests the cooperating mail order company to ship the goods (S75) and subtracts the common points from the customer member database 21. Update or the like is performed (S76), the common point utilization terminal 4 replies that the exchange for the article has been accepted (S77), and the common point utilization terminal 4 displays the fact (S78).

When refusing to exchange for an item due to insufficient accumulated points or the like, the central server 20 returns a refusal to the common point utilizing terminal 4 (S79), and the common point utilizing terminal 4 notifies to that effect. Display (S80).

The application for exchanging common points and goods as described above is not limited to the portable common point use terminal 4, but a fixed type common point use terminal such as a terminal installed at a customer's home (for example, a personal computer). You may also apply from (4).

As a modification of the above, there is a method in which the customer applies from the common point use terminal 4 to obtain a predetermined item at a predetermined store where the common points are used, and goes to the store.

The prize exchange processing as described above is not performed directly by the control server 20 in the point control system 3, but is performed mainly by the virtual market server in cooperation with the existing virtual market server. May be.
At this time, the central server 20 mainly performs subtraction processing of a predetermined number of common points.

(B-3) In the above embodiment, the content is distributed when requested by the customer member, but the central server 20 side may autonomously distribute the content.

For example, the customer member inputs in advance the type of content desired to be distributed and stores it in the customer member database 21. The central server 20 autonomously activates a content distribution process at a predetermined time, and if the content type set by each customer member changes, the content (for example, news) is used as a common point. The e-mail is sent to the terminal 4.

(B-4) In the above embodiment, the central server 20 has been shown to have a content distribution function. However, a server (total server) that collects and manages common points and a server that distributes content are provided. May be provided separately.

Similarly, the central server 2 described in the embodiment.
0 may be dispersed for each function, for example. Further, the central server 20 may be dispersed, for example, for each region.

For example, the server for each area may collect and manage the common points of the customer members in that area. Further, any of the store servers may be used as the regional server.

(B-5) The settlement between the operating company of the individual point processing system and the operating body of the point control system may be performed in real time each time the individual points are transferred to the common points.

[0193]

As described above, according to the point processing system of the present invention, compared with the conventional system, various points are provided.
It is possible to provide a system with great merit.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an overall configuration of a point processing system according to an embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a detailed configuration example of an individual point processing system according to an embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing an example of a detailed configuration of a point management system according to the embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a sequence diagram (1) showing an operation of shifting individual points to a common point when purchasing a product according to the embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a sequence diagram (2) showing an operation of shifting individual points to a common point when purchasing a product according to the embodiment.

FIG. 6 is a sequence diagram (1) showing an operation of shifting individual points to a common point when individual points are consumed according to the embodiment.
Is.

FIG. 7 is a sequence diagram (2) showing a shift operation of individual points to a common point when individual points are consumed in the embodiment.
Is.

FIG. 8 is a sequence diagram showing an operation of converting a common point using terminal to a common point according to the embodiment.

FIG. 9 is an explanatory diagram of a member login operation to the point management system according to the embodiment.

FIG. 10 is an explanatory diagram of a member registration operation to the point management system according to the embodiment.

FIG. 11 is an explanatory diagram of a service explaining operation of the point management system according to the embodiment.

FIG. 12 is an explanatory diagram of a point history display operation of the point management system of the embodiment.

FIG. 13 is an explanatory diagram of a common point increasing operation of the point managing system of the embodiment.

FIG. 14 is an explanatory diagram of a cashback operation of the point management system according to the embodiment.

FIG. 15 is an explanatory diagram of an information notification operation and the like from the member site top screen according to the embodiment.

FIG. 16 is an explanatory diagram of a member information updating operation of the point management system according to the embodiment.

FIG. 17 is an explanatory diagram of a game providing operation of the point management system according to the embodiment.

FIG. 18 is a flowchart showing a settlement process for a corporate member in the point management system of the embodiment.

FIG. 19 is a sequence diagram showing a prize exchange operation of another embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 ... Point processing system, 2 ... Individual point processing system, 3 ... Point integrated system, 4 ... Common point use terminal, 5 ... Network.

─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ───

[Procedure amendment]

[Submission date] April 24, 2002 (2002.4.2)
4)

[Procedure Amendment 1]

[Document name to be amended] Statement

[Correction target item name] 0040

[Correction method] Change

[Correction content]

(Return to the customer according to the total number of individual points
Original total amount) / (total number of individual points consumed) Even when the point unifying system 3 performs conversion from individual points to common points, similar processing for canceling the difference in the individual point processing system 2 is necessary.

[Procedure Amendment 2]

[Document name to be amended] Statement

[Correction target item name] 0060

[Correction method] Change

[Correction content]

The central server 20 performs various controls while appropriately accessing the three types of databases 21 to 23 as described above. The processing contents to the central server 20 performs reveals in dynamic Sakusetsu light to be described later.

[Procedure 3]

[Document name to be amended] Statement

[Correction target item name] 0088

[Correction method] Change

[Correction content]

(A-2-3) Conversion of individual points to common points by activating common point utilization terminal 4 The customer member stores individual points from the common point utilization terminal 4 in an individual point processing system 2. Can be triggered to convert to a common point. Below, an example of the conversion operation from the individual points to the common points in this case will be described in detail with reference to the sequence diagrams of FIGS. 8 and 9.

[Procedure amendment 4]

[Document name to be amended] Statement

[Correction target item name] 0180

[Correction method] Change

[Correction content]

[0180] The customer determines a desired article ( or service; hereinafter referred to as an article) from the displayed catalog information, and the common point utilization terminal 4 establishes a common point and an article in the central server 20. Exchange instruction information (optional information such as desired delivery date and time may be added) is transmitted (S73).

[Procedure Amendment 5]

[Document name to be corrected] Drawing

[Correction target item name] All drawings

[Correction method] Change

[Correction content]

[Figure 1]

[Fig. 2]

[Figure 3]

[Figure 5]

[Figure 4]

[Figure 6]

[Figure 7]

FIG. 18

[Figure 8]

[Fig. 12]

[Figure 9]

[Figure 10]

FIG. 11

[Fig. 13]

FIG. 14

FIG. 15

FIG. 16

FIG. 17

FIG. 19

Claims (14)

[Claims] 1. At least one individual point processing system that manages the issuance and / or consumption of individual points, and among the individual points issued by each of the individual point processing systems, the issued points are issued individually. It has a point management system that can aggregate and centrally manage the common points of the users who receive it, and can also provide content, and a user terminal owned by the users of the common points. A point processing system, characterized in that the point information is consumed and content information is transmitted to the user terminal. 2. The point management system includes a plurality of distributed servers connected in a tree structure, which are distributed and arranged for each region or each type of industry, and each individual point processing system has an arbitrary hierarchy. The point processing system according to claim 1, wherein the point processing system is connected to a distributed server. 3. The point processing system according to claim 1, wherein the point unifying system has a common point converting means for converting the individual points of each of the individual point processing systems into common points. . 4. The point conversion means eliminates the difference in the issue standard of the individual points by the individual point processing systems based on the ratio of the number of individual points and the total issue amount when issuing the number of individual points. The point processing system according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the point processing system converts the points into common points. 5. The point management system according to claim 1, wherein the requested content is distributed in accordance with a request from the user terminal, and the common point corresponding to the distributed content is subtracted. The point processing system according to any one. 6. The individual point processing system according to claim 1, wherein the individual point processing system can fetch a migration instruction of a common point of an arbitrary number of individual points among issued individual points. Point processing system. 7. The point processing system according to claim 1, wherein the content information is game information. 8. The point processing system according to claim 1, wherein the content information is culture information. 9. The point processing system according to claim 1, wherein the content information is social contribution information. 10. The point management system according to claim 1, further comprising: a gift exchange means in a virtual market, which converts common points into goods or services by a process on a network. The point processing system described. 11. In response to an instruction from the user, one of the individual point processing systems is converted to a common point by converting the individual point processing system to a common point, and the individual point processing system is operated by the individual point processing system. The individual point of the user is subtracted, and the point management system adds the common point of the user, and in accordance with the point transfer, money transfer processing from the individual point processing system to the point management system is executed. The point processing system according to claim 1, wherein the point processing system is a point processing system. 12. The point management system converts individual points into common points according to a command to transfer common points of individual points from the individual point processing system side, and the number of common points accumulated by the user is changed. The point processing system according to any one of claims 1 to 11, wherein, when updated, the updated common point number is transmitted to the individual point processing system side. 13. The point management system transfers the converted common point number for each user to a distributed server that accommodates the individual point processing system among distributed servers forming a tree structure. The point processing system according to any one of claims 1 to 12, which is characterized. 14. The point processing according to claim 1, wherein the point management system authenticates users who desire to consume common points based on information registered in advance. system.